ULevi 1

1 UThixo wabiza uMosi, wakhuluma laye esethenteni lokuhlangana. Wathi kuye,

While Moses/I was [standing near the entrance] to the Sacred Tent, Yahweh called to him/me from inside the tent. He said to Moses/me,

2 “Khuluma labantu bako-Israyeli uthi kubo, ‘Nxa omunye wenu eletha umnikelo kuThixo, kalethe umnikelo wesifuyo esivela emhlambini wenkomo kumbe owezimvu.

“Tell this to the Israeli people: ‘When any of you brings an offering to Yahweh, bring one of your sheep or goats or cattle.

3 Nxa umnikelo ungowokutshiswa uvela emhlambini wenkomo, kumele anikele ngesifuyo esiduna esingelasici. Kumele asilethe esangweni lethente lokuhlangana ukwenzela ukuthi samukeleke kuThixo.

‘If what you are offering is a bull that will be completely burned [on the altar], it must not have any defects. You must take it to the entrance to the Sacred Tent, in order that it will be acceptable to Yahweh.

4 Kuzamele abeke isandla sakhe ekhanda lomnikelo wokutshiswa, ngalokho uzakwamukelwa esikhundleni sakhe, uphendle indlela yokubuyisana.

You must lay your hands on the head of the bull. When you do that, Yahweh will accept [its death in your place] to forgive/pardon you for the sins that you have committed.

5 Kuzamele ahlabe inkunzi encinyane phambi kukaThixo, ngemva kwalokho, amadodana ka-Aroni, abangabaphristi, bazaletha igazi alichele emaceleni wonke e-alithare esangweni lethente lokuhlangana.

You must slaughter the bull in front of Yahweh. Then Aaron’s sons, who are priests, will bring the blood and sprinkle it against all sides of the altar near the entrance to the Sacred Tent.

6 Kuzamele ahlinze umnikelo wokutshiswa, abesewuhlahlela ube ngamaqatha.

You must remove the skin of the animal and cut the animal into pieces. You must wash the inner parts and the legs of the bull.

7 Kumele amadodana ka-Aroni umphristi abase umlilo e-alithareni, abesebeka inkuni emlilweni.

Then Aaron’s sons will put wood on the altar and light a fire.

8 Amadodana ka-Aroni abesehlanganisa inhloko lamahwahwa enkunini ezibhebha e-alithareni.

Then they will arrange the pieces, including the head and the fat, on the burning wood.

9 Kuzamele agezise ezangaphakathi lemilenze ngamanzi, njalo umphristi kumele akutshise konke e-alithareni. Lowo ngumnikelo wokutshiswa, umnikelo owenziwa ngomlilo, olephunga elimnandi kuThixo.

Then one of the priests will completely burn all of it on the altar. And the aroma will be pleasing to Yahweh.

10 Nxa umnikelo ungowokutshiswa, uvela emhlambini wezimvu kumbe imbuzi, kuzamele anikele ngesifuyo esiduna esingelasici.

‘If you are offering a sheep or a goat, it must be a male without any defect.

11 Kuzamele asihlabele enyakatho ye-alithare phambi kukaThixo, njalo amadodana ka-Aroni angabaphristi azachela igazi laso emaceleni wonke e-alithare.

You must slaughter it in front of Yahweh, on the north side of the altar, [and drain all the blood into a bowl]. Then Aaron’s sons will sprinkle the blood against all sides of the altar.

12 Kuzamele isifuyo asihlahlele sibe ngamaqatha, kugoqela inhloko lamahwahwa, njalo umphristi uzawabeka kahle phezu kwenkuni eziyabe zibhebha e-alithareni.

You must cut the animal into pieces. You must wash the inner parts and the legs of the animal. Then the priests will arrange the pieces, including the head and the fat, on the burning wood.

13 Kuzamele agezise ezangaphakathi lemilenze ngamanzi, njalo umphristi uzaletha inyama yonke, abeseyitshisela e-alithareni. Lowo ngumnikelo wokutshiswa, umnikelo owenziwa ngomlilo, olephunga elimnandi kuThixo.

Then one of the priests will take all of it and completely burn all of it on the altar. And the aroma as it burns will be pleasing to Yahweh.

14 Nxa umnikelo kaThixo ungumnikelo wokutshiswa, ungowenyoni, kumele anikele ngejuba kumbe iphuphu lenkwilimba.

‘If what you are offering to Yahweh is a bird, you must offer a dove or a young pigeon.

15 Umphristi uzakuletha e-alithareni, akutshile intamo, abesekutshisela e-alithareni, igazi lakho livuzele eceleni.

The priest will take it to the altar and wring/twist off its head. Then he will burn the head on the altar. He will drain out the bird’s blood onto the side of the altar.

16 Kuzamele akhuphe isidlelo lalokho okuphakathi kwaso, asilahlele empumalanga ye-alithare, lapho okulomlotha khona.

Then he will remove the bird’s (craw/food-grinding pouch) and what is inside it, and throw it on the east side of the altar, where the ashes are thrown.

17 Kayidabule ivuleke ngempiko zayo kodwa angayehlukanisi, emva kwalokho, umphristi uzayitshisela enkunini ezisemlilweni ose-alithareni. Ngumnikelo wokutshiswa, umnikelo owenziwa ngomlilo, olephunga elimnandi kuThixo.’”

Then he will grasp the bird’s wings and partially tear the bird open. Then he will burn it completely in the fire on the altar. And the aroma will be pleasing to Yahweh.’